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Japanese Ukiyoe

Utamaro and His Five Woodblock Masterpieces of Women

One of the dominating themes in the history of art anywhere in the world has always been female beauty. Parodoxically, few artists are primarily identified with this theme. A major exeption is the Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806) who dedicated is whole artistic life exploring this beauty. He specialized in the posture, the character, the softness of the skin and the grace of the woman and fully utilized the characteristic of the woodblock to obtain the essence of female nature.  The following five bijin (beauty print) designs are among his most acclaimed masterpieces and are in no particular order.    

Mountain Woman with Kintaro  (c.1801)  

Utamaro designed nearly fifty prints of the mountain woman Yamamba and her son Kintaro (a.k.a. Kintoki) in various settings and formats. This naga-oban (c. 20 3/4" x 9 1/2") design is Utamaro's most well-known print depicting this subject. In this scene the viewer can feel true motherly love from Yamamba as she's trying to calm the little boy with chestnuts while fondling him as he is holding on to her. The soft colour combination is beautifully contrasted with the strong colours used for Kintaro, emphasizing his health and strength.    

Matron in Love (c.1793)  

From Utamaro's five part series Kasen: ko no bu (Selected Love Poems) this okubi-e (bust portrait/ half length portrait) design is generally considered the best of this set of prints. The title in the English translation of this print is 'Love Which One Can Not Put Out in One's Mind' and is the portrayal of a mature woman resting her head on her hand. Her eyebrows are shaven, which indicates she's married, and her eyes are narrowed in a dreamily gaze looking into the distance. In this series Utamaro focuses on the facial expressions of these women using fine lines and soft delicate colors trying to expose their inner feelings.    

Lipstick (c.1794)  

An ordinary woman depicted in a half-kneeling position looking in a mirror which she holds in her hand. She's applying red lipstick to her mouth after she blackened her teeth. In this design Utamaro proofs his mastery in depicting women wearing everyday clothes placed in an ordinary setting. The subtle contrast between the red lipstick and the white of the skin is a magnificent detail. The black box in front of her contains implements for blackening the teeth.  

Woman Reading a Letter  (c.1791)  

The following print is from Utamaro's famous 'Ten Physiognomical Studies of Women' -series and is a study of a noble looking middle-aged woman reading a letter, with her hands outstretched to unfold it. A masterpiece because of its simplicity and superb composition. Some prints of this design have a pink-mica background instead of silver-mica. The pink was made after the silver.    

Takashima Ohisa (c.1792)  

This print belongs to the same series as the foregiving one and is probably the most celebrated single bijin portrait in the history of Ukiyo-e. The model of this print is thought to be a daughter of Takashima Chobei who was a proprietor of a tea-house in Ryogoku Yagenbori. The viewer can feel the sweetness of this girl who is a daughter of a well-to-do family. It seems that Utamaro often painted Takashima Ohisa (like many other contemporaries) by preference. He also painted Ohisa in the series 'Six Famous Beautiful Women', even after her marriage and as the proverb says: "Beauty is often inconsistent with luck", this pretty Ohisa died young leaving two sons behind.

About the Author

Here you can find more info on Utamaro and articles on Japanese woodblock prints (Hokusai and Kuniyoshi) and illustrations.

Ukiyoe By Harris, Frederick $39.81 Author: Harris, Frederick Subtitle: The Art of the Japanese Print Publication Date: 2011/04/10 Number of Pages: 192 Binding Type: Hardcover Language: English Depth: 0.75 Width: 8.50 Height: 11.00

Namibian Ukiyoe Elephant 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: ElephantsArtist: UnknownPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: A Japanese boy guides and elephant with a foreign lady in a large dress.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Namibian Ukiyoe Elephant 28x42 Giclee On Canvas $428.79 Series: ElephantsArtist: UnknownPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: A Japanese boy guides and elephant with a foreign lady in a large dress.28 inch by 42 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Buyenlarge 013176P2030 Namibian Ukiyoe Elephant 20x30 poster $31.73 Series: Elephants. Artist: Unknown. Period: Japanese Ukiyoe Prints. Source country: Japan. Source Year:. A Japanese boy guides and elephant with a foreign lady in a large dress. 20inch by 30 inch poster print on standard paper. All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results. This item takes 59 businessdays to ship

Floating Woman Head T-shirt Kwaidan japan hokusai ukiyoe shunga Light T-Shirt by CafePress $20 Enjoy Summer Horror with Japanese traditional art Kwaidan japan hokusai ukiyoe shunga Light T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Look cool without breaking the bank. Our durable, high-quality, pre-shrunk 100% cotton t-shirt is what to wear when you want to go comfortably casual. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.5.6 oz. 100% cotton. Standard fit.

The Japanese Army Occupying Vragaeschensk 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese PrintsArtist: UnknownPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: 1919An illustration of the siberian war between Russia and Japan.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

The Japanese Army Occupying Vragaeschensk 28x42 Giclee On Canvas $428.79 Series: Japanese PrintsArtist: UnknownPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: 1919An illustration of the siberian war between Russia and Japan.28 inch by 42 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Japanese Army Drill 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese Prints HokusaiArtist: HokusaiPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: Katsushika Hokusai (1760 1849) was a Japanese artist ukiyoe painter and printmaker of the Edo period. He is bestknown as author of the woodblock print series Thirtysix Views of Mount Fuji (c. 1831) which includes the iconic and internationally recognized print The Great Wave off Kanagawa created during the 1820s.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Buyenlarge 032723P2030 Japanese Army Drill 20x30 poster $31.73 Series: Japanese Prints Hokusai. Artist: Hokusai. Period: Japanese Ukiyoe Prints. Source country: Japan. Source Year:. Katsushika Hokusai (17601849) was a Japanese artist ukiyoe painter and printmaker of the Edo period. He is bestknown as author of the woodblock print series Thirtysix Views of Mount Fuji (c. 1831) which includes the iconic and internationally recognized print The Great Wave off Kanagawa created during the 1820s. 20inch by 30 inch poster print on standard paper. All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results. This item takes 59 businessdays to ship

Japanese Army Drill 28x42 Giclee On Canvas $428.79 Series: Japanese Prints HokusaiArtist: HokusaiPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: Katsushika Hokusai (1760 1849) was a Japanese artist ukiyoe painter and printmaker of the Edo period. He is bestknown as author of the woodblock print series Thirtysix Views of Mount Fuji (c. 1831) which includes the iconic and internationally recognized print The Great Wave off Kanagawa created during the 1820s.28 inch by 42 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Japanese $10 Japanese

Japanese Domestic Scene 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese Prints UtamaroArtist: UtamaroPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: Kitigawa Utamaro (17531806) was a Japanese print maker who specialized in the study of women and of insects in nature. Woodblock prints were printed on rice paper and were often advertisements for plays. Later they became trash as used to wrap exported porcelain.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Japanese Mother and Child 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese Prints UtamaroArtist: UtamaroPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: Kitigawa Utamaro (17531806) was a Japanese print maker who specialized in the study of women and of insects in nature. Woodblock prints were printed on rice paper and were often advertisements for plays. Later they became trash as used to wrap exported porcelain.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Buyenlarge 204060P2030 Japanese Pickle Plums 20x30 poster $31.73 Series: Japanese Prints. Artist: Unknown. Period: Japanese Ukiyoe Prints. Source country: Japan. Source Year: 1850. Art is in all things and nature has both beauty and function. These two plants are key to the Japanese diet. 20inch by 30 inch poster print on standard paper. All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results. This item takes 59 businessdays to ship

Japanese Pickle Plums 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese PrintsArtist: UnknownPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: 1850Art is in all things and nature has both beauty and function. These two plants are key to the Japanese diet.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Japanese Pickle Plums 28x42 Giclee On Canvas $428.79 Series: Japanese PrintsArtist: UnknownPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: 1850Art is in all things and nature has both beauty and function. These two plants are key to the Japanese diet.28 inch by 42 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Buyenlarge 018119P2030 American Drinking with Japanese Courtesan 20x30 poster $31.73 Series: Japanese Prints Yokohama Namban Foreigners. Artist: Unknown. Period: Japanese Ukiyoe Prints. Source country: Japan. Source Year: 1861. Ukiyoe (???) pictures of the floating world is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings produced between the Tokugawa or Edo Period (16151868). They were mass produced and meant for mainly townsmen who were generally not wealthy enough to afford an original painting. The original subject of ukiyoe was city life in particular activities and scenes from the entertainment district; featuring motifs of landscapes tales from history the theatre and pleasure quarters. 20inch by 30 inch poster print on standard paper. All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results. This item takes 59 businessdays to ship

American Drinking with Japanese Courtesan 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese Prints Yokohama Namban ForeignersArtist: UnknownPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: 1861Ukiyoe (???) pictures of the floating world is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings produced between the Tokugawa or Edo Period (16151868). They were mass produced and meant for mainly townsmen who were generally not wealthy enough to afford an original painting. The original subject of ukiyoe was city life in particular activities and scenes from the entertainment district; featuring motifs of landscapes tales from history the theatre and pleasure quarters.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

American Drinking with Japanese Courtesan 28x42 Giclee On Canvas $428.79 Series: Japanese Prints Yokohama Namban ForeignersArtist: UnknownPeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: 1861Ukiyoe (???) pictures of the floating world is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings produced between the Tokugawa or Edo Period (16151868). They were mass produced and meant for mainly townsmen who were generally not wealthy enough to afford an original painting. The original subject of ukiyoe was city life in particular activities and scenes from the entertainment district; featuring motifs of landscapes tales from history the theatre and pleasure quarters.28 inch by 42 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Buyenlarge 046015P2030 Japanese Domestic Scene 20x30 poster $31.73 Series: Japanese Prints Utamaro. Artist: Utamaro. Period: Japanese Ukiyoe Prints. Source country: Japan. Source Year:. Kitigawa Utamaro (17531806) was a Japanese print maker who specialized in the study of women and of insects in nature. Woodblock prints were printed on rice paper and were often advertisements for plays. Later they became trash as used to wrap exported porcelain. 20inch by 30 inch poster print on standard paper. All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results. This item takes 59 businessdays to ship

Buyenlarge 046074P2030 Japanese Mother and Child 20x30 poster $31.73 Series: Japanese Prints Utamaro. Artist: Utamaro. Period: Japanese Ukiyoe Prints. Source country: Japan. Source Year:. Kitigawa Utamaro (17531806) was a Japanese print maker who specialized in the study of women and of insects in nature. Woodblock prints were printed on rice paper and were often advertisements for plays. Later they became trash as used to wrap exported porcelain. 20inch by 30 inch poster print on standard paper. All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results. This item takes 59 businessdays to ship

Buyenlarge 204702P2030 The Japanese Army Occupying Vragaeschensk 20x30 poster $31.73 Series: Japanese Prints. Artist: Unknown. Period: Japanese Ukiyoe Prints. Source country: Japan. Source Year: 1919. An illustration of the siberian war between Russia and Japan. 20inch by 30 inch poster print on standard paper. All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results. This item takes 59 businessdays to ship

Samurai Honor Code Ash Grey T-Shirt Japanese Light T-Shirt by CafePress $23 Show bushido, the ways of the samurai: Benevolence, Respect, Wisdom, Courage, Righteousness, Sincereity, and Honor. Featuring an ukiyoe of the great samurai of old Japan, Takeda Shingen Japanese Light T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Look cool without breaking the bank. Our durable, high-quality, pre-shrunk 100% cotton t-shirt is what to wear when you want to go comfortably casual. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.5.6 oz. 100% cotton. Standard fit.

Floating World Showers 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese Prints HiroshigeArtist: HiroshigePeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 1858) was a Japanese ukiyoe artist and one of the last great artists in that tradition.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese Prints HiroshigeArtist: HiroshigePeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 1858) was a Japanese ukiyoe artist and one of the last great artists in that tradition.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Buyenlarge 027010CG12 Harvest Moon 12x 18Giclee on Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese Prints HiroshigeArtist: HiroshigePeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 1858) was a Japanese ukiyoe artist and one of the last great artists in that tradition.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Kameido Shrine 12x18 Giclee On Canvas $77.63 Series: Japanese Prints HiroshigeArtist: HiroshigePeriod: Japanese Ukiyoe PrintsSource country: JapanSource Year: 1856Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 1858) was a Japanese ukiyoe artist and one of the last great artists in that tradition.12 inch by 18 inch Giclee print on Canvas.All files are stored digitally and are ready for reproduction. The quality is closely monitored to ensure professional results.This item is custom made per order.

Ukiyoe - The Art of Bathing